Desert Tortoise Preserve Committee

The Desert Tortoise Preserve Committee, Inc. is dedicated to the recovery and conservation of the desert tortoise and other rare and endangered species living in the Mojave and western Sonoran deserts. Based in Ridgecrest, California, the organization shares information about desert tortoise biology, lifecycle, conservation status, habitat, human impacts, and threats, including raven predation. Its website also provides research and publications, frequently asked questions, and resources for people who encounter captive or found tortoises, with guidance on keeping wild tortoises wild.

The committee supports awareness of the Desert Tortoise Research Natural Area and other protected areas, offering visitors location information and wildlife and trail guides for the preserve’s Main Loop, Animal Loop, and Plant Loop trails. It also provides information about visiting and off-highway vehicle use. People can engage through meetings, events, workshops, volunteer work parties, and the Tortoise Tracks newsletter. The organization publishes news and press releases and invites public support for its conservation work. It can be contacted by phone or email and maintains offices in Ridgecrest.